Telephonic time announcer



April 27, 1937. R. BRENNAN TELEPHONIC TIME ANNOUNCER Filed June 9, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ROBERT BRENNAN ATT RNEY April 27, 1937. R. BRENNAN TELEPHONIC TIME ANNOUNCER S Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1936 INVENTOR ROBERT BRENNAN B v v ATTORNEY R. BRENNAN 2,078,312

/ TELEPHONIC TIME-ANNOUNCER Aprfl 27, 1937.

Filed June 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 \NVENTOR ROBERT BRENNAN '6' CA; v

Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 9, 1936,

In New Zealand June 10,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a new'construction of time announcing mechanism for use in respect of automatic telephone exchange installations and to provide that audible announcements of the time are made periodically and continuously and, as the time alters, varies the announcement accordingly so that on a subscriber dialling a connection leading to such announcing point, he will beswitched through and enabled to hear the announcements. While the apparatus devised is adapted for use in these circumstances it may be used in other similar circumstances where periodic time announcements are desired to be made, as for instance in respect of radio broadcasting stations.

The invention comprises means whereby the audible time announcements are effected through the operations of the well known method of light refraction from a film length, produced in a similar manner to ordinary talkie cinema film, upon a photo-electric cell to produce sound waves which are collected and amplified by ordinary loud speaker apparatus. It provides for 'a construction of apparatus in which there may be combined with a slogan announcement film, means whereby a number of separate films adapted for the announcement of different periods of time, and mechanism whereby the Whole may be moved in relation to the sound reproducer mechanism so that the slogan is first spoken and is then followed by the time period announcement, and which apparatus and mechanism are so made and worked that at periodic intervals, say each minute, the time announcing films are changed to bring the appropriate film into reproducing position in relation to the reproducer.

The means devised comprise broadly two, which for the purposes of convenience in description are herein referred to as hemispheres arranged in spherical relationship one with the other and carried on a common horizontal axis that is supported in a framing of gimbal nature mounted on avertica-l axis. The devices are however not of true hemispherical form as the vertical radius is made somewhat less than the horizontal radius in actual practice. This frame is caused to rotate in a horizontal plane at a regular rate of speed and each hemisphere has rotative motion on its axis imparted to it intermittently through special gearing. One hemisphere has such motion imparted to it through one sixtieth of a rotation on each operation and these operations are spaced at intervals apart of one minute. The other hemisphere has its motion imparted to it strips therefore come one Serial No. 84,356 1935 through one twelfth of a full rotation on each action and at intervals of one hour. Each of the hemispheres is formed to receive strips of record film upon its peripheral surface radiating from its axis and spaced at distances apart corresponding with the amount of rotative movement imparted to it on each operation. These by one into horizontal alignment'in the hemispheres rotation. Those on one member have respectively recorded thereon the spoken numerals from one to fifty nine and the word ocloc and those on the other, the spoken words from one to twelve. A light beam and 'a'photo-electric cell are arranged in positions to act in respect of each strip as it comes to the horizontal alignment and is carried round with the rotation of the gimbal frame, so that the sounds recorded on the film are reproduced in the usual manner and in correspondence with the changes in the film lengths taking place periodically.

In fully describing the invention however reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:--

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan through the two hemispheres, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof, parts being in section.

Figures 5 and 6 are detail views illustratin some of the operating mechanism.

The apparatus, as devised, comprises a base l which may be hollow and contain a driving motor ll operating a shaft [2. Upon the base a bearing or carrying frame l3 is mounted by the journalling of a central vertical spindle M in the base top and upon which spindle such frame is fixed. Rotation is imparted to the frame l3 by means of worm drive gearing l connecting the shaft l2 therewith and such gearing is timed in a suitable working of the apparatus, to impart approximately fifteen complete rotations to the frame in each minuteof time. The said frame is made of vertical cylindrical form and is con- 1 structed at its top edge with two bearing blocks I6 of circular formation disposed at diametrically opposite points and in the same axial alignment.

A shaft is provided to be journalled in these bearings l6 and to extend across the frame. This shaft however is formed of two portions disposed end to end, a left hand portion ll extending half way and locked in the bearing at its end to be rigid therewith and a right hand ortion l8 mounted loosely in the bearing H5 at its end and connecting with the portion I I by a footstep bearing as shown in Figure 3. The compound shaft I'ii8 is thus in the same axial line across the frame I3 but its axis is disposed a slight amount to one side of the vertical line of the frames axis on its spindle I4. This disposition of the shaft is made in order that in the rotation of the hemispheres as hereinafter described, their surfaces move eccentrically in relation to a fixed point of the base I ii for a purpose also hereinafter explained.

Fixed on the inner end of the portion ll of the shaft is a block I9 in which a countershaft 20 is journalled loosely to extend in a line parallel with the shaft I'I-I8.

Mounted upon the bearing block I 6 at the right hand end of the shaft is a hemisphere 2| that is journalled by means of a bearing collar 22 embodied therewith at the end of its horizontal axis so that the hemisphere is capable of rotating in a vertical plane and is positioned with its flat edge facing inwards within the frame I 3. A second hemisphere 23 is similarly mounted by means of a collar 24 combined therewith on the bearing I6 at the left hand end of the shaft I 'II8 and is arranged in relation to the other hemisphere so that in effect a complete sphere is formed but with each half capable of independent rotation on the axis formed by the said shaft.

While these devices are described as hemispheres, they are not, in fact, truly hemispherical in form, but resemble more semi-egg shape in that the maximum vertical radius is made shorter than the horizontal. The term hemisphere in this specification therefore is used in a comprehensive manner to include shapes approximating thereto. These hemispheres are made as shells so as to enclose a space within them in which space the said block I9 and the gearing hereinafter described are disposed.

In the operation of this apparatus the hemisphere 2| is designed to be given a regular rotative movement under which at each interval of a minute of time it is moved through one sixtieth of a full rotation in the vertical plane. The other hemisphere 23 is designed to be given a similar movement through one twelfth of a complete rotation at intervals of one hour, when the time announcements to be made are on the system whereby those of the forenoon are the same as those for the afternoon. When, however, the announcements are to be made on the system in which the time is reckoned from twelve to twenty three oclock for the complete twenty four hours of each day, the proportion of each rotative movement of this hemisphere is one twenty fourth of a complete rotation. Thus the hemisphere 2| will rotate a complete rotation each hour of time while the hemisphere 23 will do so in each twelve hours, or in each twenty four hours, as the case may be.

To the outer surface of the hemisphere 2| are affixed a number of strips 25 of ordinary sound reproducing film amounting to sixty in number, and having recorded thereon the matter representing the reproduction of the spoken numbers one to fifty nine and the word oclock respectively. These strips are arranged upon the said surface so that they radiate over it from its bearing end in equidistant lines apart in the full circumference and in the same manner as the lines of longitude are arranged upon a terrestrial globe. They are disposed in order from oclock and through "one to fifty nine in numerical sequence so that in the rotation of the hemie sphere in its intermittent movements at minute intervals, each line of film occupies a horizontal line above the edge of the frame casing I3.

Similarly, the surface of the hemisphere 23 has a number of strips 26 of reproducing film afiixed to it in the same manner, but the number of these is twelve, and they are spaced at intervals of one twelfth apart in the circumference of the hemisphere, and the matter recorded respectively thereon is that which will produce the spoken words twelve to eleven. These lines also in the rotation of this hemisphere come in turn to horizontal alignment with the edge of the frame I3 and each line remains thus for the space of one hour. The two hemispheres are also so adjusted in their movements that the horizontally positioned line of film of one is in correct horizontal alignment with that of the other.

A quadrant plate 28 is fixed to the edge of the frame I3 to project up for a distance and this extends round one half of the complete sphere from bearing end to bearing end, but in a line concentric with the axis of this frame. Such plate may have affixed to its outer surface a sound reproducing film strip 29 made to reproduce a slogan such as the correct time is or other appropriate matter. This strip is disposed in continual horizontal alignment with the strips upon the hemispheres for the time being occupying the horizontal line beforementioned.

i/Vhen therefore an ordinary sound reproducing apparatus comprising a light beam source 30 and a photoelectric cell 3| are placed on the base Ill so as to act in the well known reflective manner upon the sound strips 29, 26 and 25 occupying for the time being the horizontal alignment positions, and the frame I3 is rotated on its axis to pass these strips in front of such apparatus, the matter recorded thereon is reproduced by sound through the usual amplifiers employed with this apparatus. Consequently with the frame I3 rotating in the direction to carry these film strips in the order 29, 26 and 25 across the focus point on which the light source is focussed, the announcement is made The correct time is 12 .oclock, or other time, as the case may be, as they move round past the reproducer apparatus on each rotation of the frame I3.

The feature of construction under which the horizontal axis of the hemispheres is disposed to one side of the line of the vertical axis of the frame, as beforementioned, provides that the eccentricity of movement of the hemispheres in their horizontal plane causes one half of the horizontal circumference to move in a line closer to the light source 30 than the other half. The light source is disposed in focus with the strips on this half and is therefore out of focus with those on the other half in diametric relationship therewith so that only the sounds recorded on the first half are reproduced on each rotation. The said plate 28 being concentric with the frame I3 is so disposed that its strip 29 is also in focal relationship with the light source 30.

The movement of the hemisphere 2I at minute intervals, and the movement of the hemisphere 23 at hourly intervals, will provide for the changes in time announcements between 12 o'clock and eleven fifty nine being effected continuously and regularly throughout that period and repeating periods.

The invention also comprises suitable means for the transmission of the aforesaid movements to the hemispheres 2| and 23 in synchronism 3 part of its length and a with the'rotation of' the frame l3.- These means are more particularly shown in Figures 3" and 6 and are intended to be used in combination with amaster clock designed toconvey electric power impulseseach minute of time and over a period conforming with-none rotation of the frame I3 through a lead wire 32 connecting with a spring finger 33 pivoted on the base Ill and adapted to'normally contact with an insulated metal ring 34 secured to extend round the outside of the rotating circular frame I3. Such ring. is formed with a projecting cam portion '35 at a governor device I2 (Figural) is mounted on the driving shaft 12 of the motor II and adjusted to bear on the finger 33 and hold it out of engagement with the major part of the rings length but so that it will brush-the cam portion 35 as it passes, so long as the motor continues its operation at the proper speed. Should the speed drop, or cease altogether, the finger 33 will spring in to contact with the ring and thus maintain cooperation with the master clock to keep the hemispheres operating in their correct synchronism with the clock although the time announcements may be stopped. Thus any need for synchronizing the apparatus with the actualtime, on restarting after a stoppage of announcements, is removed.

A solenoid magnet 36 is arranged vertically upon the bottom of the frame I3 and this has one pole connected with the insulated ring 34, its other pole being earthed through the frame and base in any convenient manner. The magnet is thus caused to be intermittently energized at intervals of a minute of time and. as the impulses are received through the master clocks action.

The core one end of a lever 38 and is kept normally drawn out by approved means, as for instance the tension spring 39 connecting the other end of this lever 38 with the base of the frame I0. To the extremity of this other end of the lever a push rod 49 is connected to extend upwardly alongside the bearing end of the hemisphere 2I.

To the outer end of the shaft I8 is affixed a disc 4| having a series of six pegs 42 projecting from its outer face and arranged in a concentric ring at equal intervals apart. I The upper end of the push rod passes tangentially with the disc and is adapted to engage one of these pegs from beneath as the rod is pushed up at each action of the solenoid core to rock the lever 38, to move the disc and shaft through one sixth of a rotation and then to drop ready to engage the next peg in its turn when the rod is again moved upward. Such motion of the shaft is then conveyed through the gear Wheel 43 on the inner end of the shaft I8 to a gear wheel 44 fixed on the countershaft 20 and through the gear wheel 45 on this countershaft back to a gear wheel 45 fixed upon the bearing collar 22 of the hemisphere 2I, to thereby convey the rotative movement to the said hemisphere. This gearing is made in the ratio of 10 to 1 so that the one sixth rotation of the shaft I8 conveys the required one sixtieth rotation to the hemisphere 2|.

The movement imparted to the countershaft 23 is used to move the hemisphere 23 at its hourly intervals and through one twelfth of a rotation and for this purpose such countershaft gears through gearing wheels 41 and 48 with a cam wheel 49 made integral with the latter and loosely mounted on the fixed shaft end I1 upon 31 of the solenoid is connected to pivoted on the solenoid.

the reverse side of the block I 9. This cam wheel is designed, by the operation of its gearing, to have a complete rotation imparted to it each hour, being intermittently moved on each movement of the shaft end I8. The said cam wheel is formed onits peripheral surface with a single radial tooth 50 to the top of which the cam surface rises from the bottom in the complete circumference.

Pivotally mounted on the corresponding end of the block I9 is a lever arm 5I which extends at its free end across the cam wheel edge and is provided with a tooth 52 which rides'on such edgeand is kept in close engagement therewith by means-of the tension spring 53. This lever is thus caused to be moved laterally outward against its spring as the cam edge of this cam wheel turns beneath it and then to move quickly inward as thetooth drop 5|] passes across it on the completion of the rotation. An outward and inward movement is thus imparted to the lever on each hourly rotation of the cam wheel.

Fixed to the collar bearing 24 of the hemisphere 23 is a ratchet wheel 54 having twelve teeth evenly spaced. A pawl 55 is pivoted on the lever arm 5| to engage the edge of such wheel and the movement imparted to the lever is such, as through the ratchet wheel, to impart one twelfth of a rotation to the hemisphere on each inward movement of such lever. To prevent any over-run of the ratchet wheel and to hold it stationary between its impulses, a second ratchet wheel 56 is fixed on the hemisphere collar 24 and is made with oppositely inclined teeth. A spring pawl 51 is pivoted on the block I9 to engaged the teeth of this ratchet wheel and to lock it from movement in the direction to which impulse is imparted by the ratchet wheel 54. Attached, however, to the extremity of the lever 5I is a finger piece 58 which rides on a stop 59 upon this pawl 51, and is so designed that as the lever 5I swings inwardly, it will depress the pawl 51 from contact with itsratchet wheel thus freeing it and allowing the pawl 55 to engage and turn the wheel 54, and then to allow of the pawl 51 immediately moving in to again engage the detentratchet wheel 56 and prevent over-run of the hemisphere 23 concerned. As the lever 5| is moved out gradually its finger piece will slide over the stop 59 pressing the pawl 51 out again and then allowing it to drop back towards the end of the movement. The pawls 55 and the finger piece 58 areso adjusted on the lever 5! that as the lever moves inward the pawl 51 will be engaged first and'moved out, and the pawl 55 will then follow on to engage its ratchet wheel and move it round for the required distance. The arrangement and action of the means for moving and controlling the hemisphere 23 are more clearly shownin the detail Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.

It will be seen therefore that in the arrangement and form of operating means for the two hemispheres, the most of the gear is contained within the space enclosed by the hemispheres. It is to be understood," however, that the invention is not confined exclusively to the actuating means shown as other mechanism may readily be devised for imparting the necessary periodic rotatory movements to the hemispheres as they are carried round with the frame I3 in its rotation.

The plate 28 may also have other reproducing film strips secured to it, to work in conjunction with auxiliary sound projection apparatus for reproducing other matter in alternation with the time announcements provided for. Also the hemispheres may have other reproducing film strips than the time announcing stripsattached to them in alternation with such strips, if so desired.

The film strips are afiixed to the surfaces concerned in any suitable and approved manner as for instance by being inset in grooves formed in such surfaces.

I claim:

1. Automatic time announcing means comprising the combination with soundreproducing apparatus embodying a light beam projector and photoelectric cell arranged in working cooperation upon a stationary base, of a carrying frame mounted on such base to rotate thereon upon a vertical axis and having means for rotating it at a constant rate of speed, a pair of approximately hemispherically formed bodies mounted on a horizontal axis supported in such frame, in spherical relationship one with the other and each capable of independent rotation on such axis, each of which bodies has attached to its outside surface a series of ordinary sound reproducing film strips disposed thereon to radiate from its axis pole to its vertical circumference at equal distances apart, means for imparting rotary movements to one of such bodies through one sixtieth of a full rotation at intervals of one minute of time and means for imparting similar movements to the other body through one twelfth of a full rotation at intervals of one hour of time, the said bodies being so disposed in relation to the said sound reproducing apparatus that the strips thereon for the time being in alignment upon one side of their axis of rotation will in re rotary movement of the carrying frame pass across the reproducer apparatus in reproducing focal relationship therewith.

2. Automatic time announcing means according to claim 1, in which the horizontal axis of the said bodies is disposed to one side of the vertical line of the axis of the carrying frame, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

3. Automatic time announcing means according to claim 1, in which the said body which is turned through one sixtieth of a rotation at each movement is provided with sixty film strips upon its surface having recorded respectively thereon the matter necessary to reproduce the sounds from oclock through one to fifty nine and in which the other body is provided with twelve film strips having recorded respectively thereon the matter necessary to reproduce the sounds from one to twelve, substantially as specified.

4. Automatic time announcing means according to claim 1, in which a quadrant plate is affixed to the carrying frame to encircle the portion of the circumference of the film strip bearing bodies mounted thereon which on each rotation of the frame is for the time being away from focal relationship with the said sound reproducing apparatus, but which plate has a reproducing film strip arranged horizontally thereon in a position to come into focal relation with the reproducing apparatus on each rotation of the carrying frame, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. Automatic time announcing means according to claim 1, in which the horizontal axis of the said bodies is disposed to one side of the vertical line of the axis of the carrying frame and in which a quadrant plate is affixed to the said frame to extend concentrically with its axis and to encircle the portion of the circumference of the film strip bearing bodies mounted thereon which on each rotation of the frame is for the time being away from focal relationship with the said sound reproducing apparatus, but which plate has a reproducing film strip arranged horizontally thereon in a position to come into focal relation with the reproducing apparatus on each rotation of the carrying frame, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. Automatic time announcing means according to claim 1, in which the rotative movements of the said bodies on their horizontal axis are obtained through electric impulses conveyed from a master clock at minute intervals and transmitted to a solenoid magnet mounted on the carrying frame by means of a brush contact ring surrounding such frame and a brush contact finger mounted on the said base to engage the ring.

7. Automatic time announcing means according to claim 1, in which the rotative movements of the said bodies on their horizontal axis are obtained through electric impulses conveyed from a master clock at minute intervals and transmitted to a solenoid magnet mounted on the carrying frame by means of a brush contact ring surrounding such frame and a brush contact finger mounted on the said baseto engage the ring, and in which such solenoid magnet has its moving core connected to a push rod mounted in the frame and such push rod engages a ratchet wheel to impart partial rotation thereto on each energizing of the magnet and such ratchet wheel transmits its movements through gearing to the respective bodies. ROBERT BRENNAN. 

